THE writer has been requested to furnish the CUMBERLAND PRESBYTERIAN with a brief notice of the life, labors, and death of Rev. B. F. Smith, M.A., who died at his mother's residence, near Corinth, Miss., January 29, 1878.

Bro. Smith was received under care of Bell Presbytery, as a probationer for the gospel ministry in the year 1869; was licensed by said Presbytery to preach the gospel in July, 1870; was ordained by same Presbytery in June, 1872. His ordination took place when he was a little over twenty years of age. He was graduated with the first honors of his class in Cumberland University, in the year 1872. He was pastor of the Cumberland Presbyterian church in Oxford, Miss., twenty months in the years 1873-4; resigned the pastorate of Oxford church in order to become a student in Yale College; which institution he entered as a student in the fall of 1874. His health failing, he left college and returned home. He was appointed missionary, by the Board of Missions, to Helena, Ark., in 1875, which position he filled until his feeble state of health demanded his resignation. After spending two or three months with the church at Marshall, Texas, he returned again to Yale College to finish his literary course in that institution. His college days over, he returned to Murfreesboro, Tenn., and served the church there as its pastor for five months. This was his last pastoral work. He fell asleep in Jesus at the age of twenty-six years and ten days.

In the person of Bro. Smith a watchman of no ordinary ability has fallen. To his fine natural abilities were added the benefits of a thorough education. He may not have been what the world styles "a great pulpit orator;" still his pulpit efforts were far above ordinary, and would have been creditable to one far his senior in years. His sermons were systematic, logical, and practical. Few preachers could eliminate the doctrines of a text and present them more clearly than Bro. Smith.

Though young in years, he was well known to the Church as a writer. Many were his contributions to the religious press; and like his preaching, his contributions were always clear, pointed, and logical. Had his life been spared to the Church, doubtless his pen would have been that of "the ready writer." but his life-work is done. And from this brief and imperfect sketch we may learn how much can be done in a few years of one short life-time. Through this event in his divine providence, God speaks to the watchman still on the walls of his Zion and says: "Be ye also ready." May it enkindle in our hearts feelings kindred to those of Elisha, when he exclaimed: "My Father! My Father! the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof." May it enkindle in our hearts feelings and sentiments kindred to those of the Master when he said: "I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day--the night cometh, when no man can work."
     CORINTH, MISS.

[Source: The Cumberland Presbyterian, February 14, 1878, page 2]

A Public mention, merely, of these two young men has been made. The case, however, deserves something more. These brothers were sons of a widowed mother, who still lives; their father died when Hamilton, the elder, was about eighteen, and B. F. Smith, as he was usually called, was about eight years old. Their mother writes, "that they were industrious boys, working to make a living, and learning all they could from books," but, of course, under great discouragements. After taking the usual college course at Cumberland University they graduated in 1872. It is worthy of remark that although there was a disparity of years in their ages, they seemed to have but one mind and one heart. They customarily, and, I suppose, always, studied together in preparing their lessons, and sat side by side in the recitation room. It was a beautiful sight to witness their devotion to one another. In 1873 they completed the Theological course, and graduated in June of that year. B. F. Smith spent something more than a year in the pastorate in Oxford, Mississippi, and two succeeding winters at Yale College, and in the spring of 1876 took charge of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. But excessive application to what seemed to him needful studies, in connection, perhaps, with the severity of two successive northern winters in succession, had brought on the beginning of consumption. He struggled through the summer and autumn and on to midwinter in his work, and resigned his charge. I soon received the intelligence myself from a member of the congregation that "he had left them and gone home to his mother's go die." He lingered a few months and died, the mother writes, "in the full triumph of a living faith." His brother, Hamilton, had labored considerably in the ministry, and promised well, but was soon called to follow his younger brother. He, too, died in faith, rejoicing that he was to be so soon relieved from the sufferings through which, as a furnace, he was called to pass. These great and beloved young men promised a high order of usefulness. They had the patience and energy to prepare themselves for it, and it was before them if they had lived. But God sees not as man sees often. It has been so in this case; the young are struck down, and the old are left to struggle with the burdens of life. The good widowed and bereaved mother says, after giving the facts thus mentioned, "I cannot write more at present. I am like Rachel weeping for my children, and cannot be comforted, because they are not." "They cannot come to me, but I can go to them." Who does not sympathize with that mother? But still, there is another aspect of the picture: How few mothers have the privilege of being preceded to heaven by two promising young preachers? Such a view of the subject should certainly contribute a great deal towards neutralizing the force of the blow, which would otherwise fall so heavily. God reigns; and clouds and darkness are often round about him, but still we are to know that justice and judgment are the habitation of his throne.
   LEBANON, TENN.
[Source: The Cumberland Presbyterian, October 28, 1880, page 2]